Road Father

by Scott Yanow Woody Herman's big band recorded this direct-to-disc LP in early 1978. The well-rounded set includes remakes of Herman perennials ("Woodchopper's Ball" and "I Got New for You"), more recent pieces (Charles Mingus' "Duke Ellington's Sound of Love" and Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely") and originals by Al Vizzutti, Bruce Johnstone and Alan Broadbent. Among the key soloists are trumpeter Vizzutti, tenor saxophonist Frank Tiberi (who also plays bassoon on "Pavane"), baritonist Johnstone and Joe Lovano (who takes a spot on tenor during "Isn't She Lovely"), while bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Jeff Hamilton keep the proceedings moving. Herman was certainly a masterful talent scout.